Entertainment

Get Outdoors with The North Face Trailhead iPhone App

Outdoor apparel retailer The North Face has released a fantastic new trail-finding app for the iPhone, designed to help users find and share the best routes for hiking, skiing, fly-fishing, mountaineering, geocaching and more than a dozen other outdoor activities.

The free app [iTunes link] enables users to search by activity type and distance, proximity (either from your current location using GPS or by zip code) and user ratings. The database of routes is pulled from EveryTrail.com, a platform for swapping trails with fellow enthusiasts.

You can add keywords to your search, and also view user-submitted photos and tips if they're included, which is especially useful if you're after inspiring views. Once you've found a trail you'd like to explore, you can add it to your favorites (you'll have to sign up for an Everytrails.com membership first, which you can quickly do within the app) and get driving directions to the trailhead.

I've already used the app to pick out my Saturday hike, a moderate seven-mile trail within driving distance of New York City. Thanks to the keyword search function, I was able to find a path that adjoined a lake to swim in — a must-have feature of any summer hiking trail, in my opinion.

If you'd like to record and share your own journey, you can use the app's tracker to record your route in real-time, including elevation changes. When you finish, you can add tips and images, and then share your trail on Facebook, Twitter and EveryTrail.com.

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